Serene Majesty ridden by Kerrin McEvoy (white pom pom) wins race 5 during Scone Races located in the Upper Hunter Region of NSW. Pic Jenny Evans

Shayne says he wouldn’t be surprised to see Ryan runners finish one-two but still happy to put Ikaba on top as his best for the day.

He also likes the lightly raced Southern Flight as his next best in the Country Championship Qualifier.

WELLINGTON

Look of Distinction

ALISON Smith rates Distinctive Look as the horse to beat in Sunday’s Country Championships Qualifier but is daring to dream of having one or even two horses in the $400,000 final next month.

Orange trainer Smith will saddle up Absolute Ripper and Missy Rhythmos in the $150,000 heat and is hopeful rather than confident either horse can run top two and book a spot in the $400,000 Country Championships Qualifier at Randwick on April 1.

Absolute Ripper is stepping up from 1000m to 1400m and is yet to race beyond 1100m.

“That’s a bit of a query but you are never going to know if you don’t try her (over 1400m),” Smith said.

“It hasn’t been ideal not being able to get her over 1200m yet and it’s only because every time I’ve gone to do that she has hurt herself.

“I’ve thrown her in the deep end a little bit (Sunday) and she will either sink or swim.”

Absolute Ripper has won her past two starts at Hawkesbury in impressive fashion over 1000m and Smith is hoping the Wellington track will give her a sneaky chance.

“To be honest, with Absolute Ripper, if it was on any other track other than Wellington I would most probably not have contemplated it,” she said.

“But with that downhill run, they all have to run 1400m still but it should be an easier 1400m than most.

“She is fit and she is well and she has been racing really well. The day at Rosehill she was strong on the line (over 1100m) and she had a hard run that day.”

Missy Rhythmos comes into the race following a second to today’s rival Southern Flight at Orange over 1280m last month and Smith said the run was better than it looked on paper.

“Her run at Orange the other day was pretty good considering she was in the slow lane,” she said. “She is improving every start ... and she is an each-way shot.”

Smith described Southern Flight as the “smoky” but rated Distinctive Look just ahead of Galaxy Warrior as the horse to beat. “Distinctive Look has had the right preparation going into this race and Galaxy Warrior has had a bit of an interrupted preparation and he was in at Warwick Farm the other week when they were called off,” Smith said.

“He hasn’t had the preparation that I would say Gayna (Williams) would have liked for him to have going into it but things have gone quite smoothly for Distinctive Look, so he would be the hardest to beat.”

Meanwhile, Cameron Crockett will also be represented by two runners — Ori On Fire and Jar Of Hearts in the qualifier.

“The owners were pretty keen to give Ori On Fire a crack when he got a run and it’s probably a bit above him at the moment but I can see him being at that level in 12 months,” he said.

“I think Jar Of Hearts will give it a good shake.

“She is a gutsy little mare who tries her heart out and she is dropping 3.5kg.

“Her latest win was a class 2 at Bathurst and the bush horse that got the closest to her was beaten four lengths and it ran third and a city-trained galloper ran second.”

The Boot and the Country Championships Qualifier make for a huge day at Wellington. Picture: Jenny EvansSource:News Corp Australia

Time not on side of Vella

GRATZ Vella is concerned an interrupted preparation could bring American Time undone in the $80,000 Wellington Cup.

The five-year-old mare was due to have her final cup lead-up in the Merimbula Cup at the Sapphire Coast on March 3 but the meeting was called off due to visibility after two races.

It means American Time comes into Sunday’s feature three weeks between runs.

“If she had that run at the Sapphire Coast, I reckon she would have been nearly spot on for this 1700m,” Canberra trainer Vella said.

“As you know, when you get them up to peak fitness you have to keep them at that level.

“We have given her the work but the work isn’t as good as a race. I still think she has a very good chance on her last run (but missing a run is not ideal).”

Vella rated the Tim Martin-trained Gambler’s Blues, who was scratched from a race at Rosehill yesterday, and Pippi’s Pride as the two to beat in today’s 1700m feature.

Meanwhile, Vella will also saddle up Boys Day Out in the $45,000 Wellington Town Plate (1100m).

The five-year-old finished second-last in the Canberra National Sprint last Sunday but Vella expects him to relish today’s drop in grade and distance.

“He is backing up from last Sunday and I think he has a big chance for sure,” Vella said.

“The 1100m will suit him a lot better than the 1400m. He had been racing really well until that race last week.”

The other feature races on the program include the $150,000 Country Championships Qualifier and $100,000 Wellington Boot for two-year-olds where leading Sydney trainer Gerald Ryan has the two early favourites, Boyish and Ikaba.

BEST BETS WITH SHAYNE O’CASS

BEST BET: IKABA (Race 7, No. 4)

One of two Gerald Ryan runners in the time-honoured Wellington Boot and he may very run one-two in the 2YO feature. Ikaba ran a close up 4th in his first trial behind Pariah no less, then came out and was an utterly dominant winner in his second trial. Looks well up to the task.

NEXT BEST: SOUTHERN FLIGHT (Race 8, No. 12)

A lightly-raced and talented type striving to book a berth in the $400K Country Championships Final at Randwick on Apr. 1. Granted this is a big step up for the horse but the win last start was so impressive. Ready and able to measure up here in the big leagues.

CHOC FULL: NORDIC NOIR (Race 5, No, 1)

Will be ridden by Tony ‘Choc’ Cavallo and this horse has been building up to a win after four runs this prep, the last three have contained considerable merit. Trainer Mark Jones has found the ideal race and he’s got the draw he wants (5).

Big day: Corowa holds its annual cup down on the NSW-Victoria border. Picture: Jenny EvansSource:News Corp Australia

COROWA

Heywood sure that his grey’s ready to go the distance

CONTRARY to the horse’s name, trainer Chris Heywood has no issues with Not Too Sure getting the mile in the Corowa Cup.

The grey gelding has won seven races from 1100m to 1400m but is unplaced in two runs over 1600m. Despite that, Heywood remains confident that the horse has was it takes to take out the $35,000 feature.

“He’s had a couple of starts over the mile previously with other trainers and he’s gone well,’’ Heywood said.

“And he’s one from one at Corowa and the horse is well. I am very happy with him.’’

Not Too Sure has been racing in tremendous form for a long stretch — including a close second to the handy Ruthless Agent but before that was a disappointing second in the Carrathool Cup on March 4 but with excuses.

“I expected him to win but he carried more weight than any other horse in the race by a fair bit and he was pestered from the 700m to the 500m. That softened him up, but he was still gallant in defeat.’’

Weighing heavily in Not Too Sure’s favour this time, no pun intended, is that he will go around with just 52.5kg or 7.5kg less than his main threat Ashdam.

“It’s going to make a huge difference and he (Not Too Sure) is a genuine country cups type of horse so they are going to know he’s there.’’

Heywood has a strong hand at the meeting with six runners including Leucura who was runner-up in the Forbes and Narromine cups last preparation. The son of Hemingway turned in an eye-catching effort first-up over 1000m at Wagga, beaten 3½ lengths in a hotly contested Whirlwind.

“It looks like a nice race for him,’’ Heywood said.

“He looks like a horse better suited now over the 1200m and 1400m.

“He got out to a mile last ­preparation which we never thought he would.’’

Heywood’s day kicks off with the two-year-old debutante Serious Charge carrying high expectations in the first race.

“She trialled super against a horse named Ashlor who is in at Moonee Valley on Monday,’’ he said. “She’s a super little filly. I really do love her.’’

BEST BETS WITH SHAYNE O’CASS

BEST BET: NOT TOO SURE (Race 7, No. 3)

Not quite Super Impose when it comes to the mile but the grey offsets that somewhat with the 52.5kgs which is 7.5kgs below his main threat, Ashdam. Been the proverbial model of consistent of late and will take holding out.

EACH WAY: THE SCRIPT (Race 5, No. 12)

Has had plenty of chances to breakthrough before Sunday but one senses that trainer Mandie Jones has the horse ready and able to finally salute. Lachlan King takes the 3kgs off some the horse has no weight and this is hardly a strong line. Fitter for the first up run and will be good odds.

Distinctive Look will be hard to hold out at Wellington. Picture: Simon BullardSource:News Corp Australia

Originally published as Previews: Best bets for Wellington, Corowa